Tories caving to landlords?

John Denham has accused the Conservatives of a ‘devious misuse’ of parliamentary process over regulation of shared housing.

The communities secretary was writing about Tory leader David Cameron’s recent decision to sign an early day motion calling for new planning regulations around houses in multiple occupation to be revoked.

In a blog post on the Labour Matters site, Mr Denham said: ‘This is an incredible and devious misuse of the parliamentary process, apparently at the behest of the National Landlords Association.

Read full article in Inside Housing

My thoughts are that the Tories recognised this to be yet another bit of clueless housing policy, Mr Denham, a bit like they seem to with HIPs.

It's good to admit when things aren't working, maybe you should give it at go sometime John.

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Warning HMRC email scam

Landlords should be aware of a new scam email.

The email reports to be from HMRC and invites recipients to use a link to a copy of the HMRC site to retrieve a tax refund.

These emails are 'phishing' for bank details that will be requested as part of the process of supposedly receiving your tax refund.

Be warned!

Read more on this scam in ThisisMoney

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Tenant issues - who's right.

There are some rotten landlords around, who'd be a tenant?

An interesting article for tenants and landlords alike outlining the rights of tenants with some commonly occurring issues over tenancies and disputes.

Read the article here in the Times

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Property price twitter and tweets

You make your mind up as to "where next?"

House prices see spring bounce - BBC
First time buyers drop to lowest level - Telegraph
Property price crash if Tories win - Guardian
House prices up 2.6 percent in April - Independent
UK property up 2.6 percent in April - Business Week
Surge in property for sale - Times
Property markets spring revival Press Association
London and Southern property sales hits 3 year peak - Money Marketing

See all the property price tweets

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The tenant wont move out

Landlords who have struck unlucky may have a situation where they just can't get rid of their tenant.

Despite persistent periods of non-payment of rent the tenant wont do the decent thing and move out.

It's tempting at this stage to use some slighty more 'heavy hints ' to the tenant that it's really time to go!

However, those sorts of understandable actions by the landlord could lead to more trouble from the tenant and a conviction of the landlord of harassment and illegal eviction.

The moto in every case is a landlord should aim not to: "get mad but to get even"

That way you will be he one with the last laugh!

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10 tips on finding a tradesman

Here is a recent article about finding a decent tradesman.

One good thing about the down turn in theory is that finding decent and reliable tradespeople to do work on your buy-to-let property should be easier. Is anybody finding this?

My problem is not so much finding them but actually getting them to go and do the job when they are supposed to. Is there something contrarian in the psyche of the average British plumber? Do they get a buzz out of telling you they will go round to a tenants house and do the job on a specific day. Then to decide not to and what's more - not tell you.

It's only when you phone the tenant a few days later that you find out " oh no John didn't turn up"

Well here's to the optimist in me that John the plumber will finally get round today and look at a suspected dropped drain.

Hope - just like the persistent toilet leak in another property 'springs eternal'.

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